Sam Burgess wants to pay back the man who gave him a Test Bow because he lost at poker

SAM Burgess is said to be keen on revenge thanks to co-star Tony Smith.

Yet the man who gave him his UK debut is innocent of coming out of his own pocket – it’s all thanks to Adrian Morley.

The Warrington boss will tonight face the man who handed the then teenager a memorable international bow against New Zealand in his first home game as boss against Hull FC in 2007.

A try and a now legendary hit off Kiwi prop Fuifui Moimoi announced his arrival on the world stage, a glimpse of the player he would become.

But even though he became an NRL star, the memories of Morley taking over his money with cards remain just as vivid 17 years later.

Burgess recalled: “We played cards every night and Adrian gave me hard and fast rules about poker. He took my money from me every week!

“Tony had the courage to start me on the front row in a Test match when I was 18 years old.

“I was blessed to have him and Steve McNamara was his assistant at the time. I really enjoyed working with him then.

“He taught me a few things, told me to be tougher sometimes and play smarter against others. He also let me be myself.

“I was in camp, in the center of Manchester, in a flash hotel, with some incredible players. That week was the most fun I’d had in my life.”

Burgess is looking for a win in his first home match after Warrington impressed when going down 16-10 to Grand Finalists Catalans.

And teenage Warrington winger Arron Lindop looks set to keep his place after trying to score, even though he had to miss training on Tuesday because he was studying!

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But Burgess believes the 17-year-old has already shown he can juggle the two, adding: “I like Arron’s position and I really encourage him to complete his education.

“To come and train with us, he does his work at night so he’s at the front – he put his work on the bench when we went to France for three days.

“The child takes care of all this and plays at the highest level, but is also happy. He had a big day of classes on Tuesday and exams coming up, but he’s a pretty composed young man and takes everything in stride.

“I didn’t go to university – I was offered a full-time contract when I finished Year 11. Just try to stop a 16-year-old when that happens.”